Bar bundling cradle

ABSTRACT

A bundling cradle for bars includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart assemblies. Each assembly has two spaced-apart upwardly extending arms with a vertical post between the arms. A chain extends between one arm and the post with a chain-supporting sprocket attached to either the arm or post. The position of the post with respect to the arms is adjustable so that the catenary of the chain may be varied to vary the size of the bundle. After the desired number of bars are accumulated they are banded in position and then removed.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Donald M. Campbell Westmont, 111.[21] Appl. No. 875,387 [22] Filed Nov. 10, 11969 [45] Patented Dec. 14,19711 73] Assignee United States Steel Corporation [54] MAR BUNDLINGCRADLE 10 Claims, 4 Drawing lFigs.

[52] ILLS. C1 214/610, 211/60 R, 214/8 R, 214/105 [51] int. Cl. B65g1/14 {50] Field 01 Search 2l4/8,6,6 1-1.6 K,6 P,6S,6 D, 10.5;21 1/60 R,608

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 146,436 1/1874 Dilley214/4413 2,672,992 3/1954 Whissen 214/105 2,905,340 9/1959 Clark et a1.214/611 2,930,493 3/1960 Sundblad et a1. 214/6 D X 3,007,591 11/1961Sundblad 214/6 D X 3,028,980 4/1962 Lindquist 214/6 D 3,084,812 4/1963Johansson 214/6 H X FOREIGN PATENTS 917,543 9/1946 France 214/6 H 26,97611/1954 Finland 214/6 H Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza AssistantExaminer-Robert J. Spar AItorney-Martin J. Carroll Patented ea. 14,,1971 3,2? l51 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIME/V701? DONALD M CAMPBELL A Harmy BARBUNDLING CRADLE This invention relates to a cradle for bundling aplurality of barlike objects such as bars, rods or pipes. Prior to myinvention bars of a desired length were fed to and collected on a cradlehaving a solid bottom. Chain or cable slings were then placed around thebars and attached to the hooks of an overhead crane. When lifted fromthe cradle this formed a bundle of relatively uniform shape which wasstrapped or banded while supported by the crane. Thus, considerablecrane time was required.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a bar bundlingcradle which is so constructed that bars can be assembled to form abundle of the desired shape and which permits banding of the bundle inthe cradle.

Another object is to provide such a cradle which can be adjusted toassemble bundles of various sizes and shapes.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIG. l is an elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a section elevation through the post of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, but with parts broken away showinga second embodiment of my invention; and

FIG. 45 is an end view of FIG. 3.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. l and 2 of the drawing, referencenumeral 2 indicates a cradle assembly, a plurality of which arespaced-apart longitudinally and connected to make a cradle. While onlytwo end cradles are shown in FIG. 2, any desired number of intermediateassemblies may be provided. Each assembly consists of a generallyU-shaped member 4 having generally vertical arms 6 and 7 connected bymeans of a generally horizontal base 8. As shown this provides anarcuate supporting surface 10. A bar 12 is welded to the base 2 and hasa plurality of sockets 14 therein for selectively receiving a post 16.The top flange of beam 18 closes the bottoms of sockets M. The post 16has a bifurcated upper end 20. A brace arm 22 is received between andpivotally connected to the arms of the bifurcated upper end 20. The arm22 has a plurality of spaced-apart notches or openings 24 which areadapted to receive a pin 26 extending from the arm 7. A shaft 28supported by the arms of the bifurcated end supports a sprocket 30having a chain 32 draped thereover. A removable pin 34 prevents thechain 32 from slipping up off the sprocket. A second pin 36 alsosupported by the bifurcated upper end 20 prevents rotation of thesprocket 30. The other end of the chain 32 is fixed to the arm 6. Asocket 38 is mounted on each of the arms 6 and 7 and detachably receivesa bar 40 for a purpose which will appear later.

The assemblies 2 are mounted on longitudinal beams 42 to which they arewelded. The beams 42 are supported on load cells 44. The beams 18 and 42are preferably connected to a support 46 by means of fiexure plates 48.A conveyor 50 including sprockets 52 and chains 54 (only one of which isshown) feed bars B or B to the cradle over guides 55 in a wellknownmanner.

Depending upon the size of the bundle which is to be prepared, the post16 of each assembly is positioned in the desired socket 14 with theposts E6 of all assemblies in alignment. In order to do this, it isnecessary to raise the brace arm 22 from the pin 26. After positioningthe post 16, the arm 22 is lowered over the pin 26 so as to brace thepost I6 against transverse movement. It will be seen that the sockets Mand notches 24 are similarly spaced so that the post 16 is alwayspositioned vertically. With the pin 36 removed, the sprocket 30 isturned to position the chain 32 to provide the desired catenary and thelocking pin 36 is then replaced. The conveyor 50 is then operated tofeed the bars 8 into the cradle. After the required weight of bars, asdetermined by the load cells 44, has accumulated the conveyor 50 isstopped and the accumulated bars banded while laying in the chains 32.THe load is then removed by an overhead crane. Generally the depth isgreater than shown so that larger bundles can be formed. The operationis then repeated with the parts in the same position as long as the samesize bundle is desired. When a larger or smaller bundle is desired, thearm 22 is raised, the post 16 positioned in a different socket M, pin 36is removed and the sprocket 3t) turned to position chain 32 to providethe desired catenary. The cradle is then loaded as before.

When a very large bundle of bars is to be formed, the post 16 andassociated parts are removed and the bars are received directly on thesupporting surface 10'. When rectangular bundles of rectangular bars BAre to be piled the arm 116 with associated mechanism of each assemblyis removed and the bar 40 is placed in the sockets 38. Rectangular barsB are fed by the conveyor 50 and are stacked manually on the bars 40.After the desired load as determined by the load cells 44 hasaccumulated, the bars are banded and the bundle then removed.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, assemblies 56are substituted for the assemblies 2. Each assembly 56 includes aU-shaped member 57 having vertical arms 5% and 60 connected by flat basemember 62. A horizon tal bar 641 is welded to the base 62 and has spacedvertical holes 66 therein. A bar 63 extends upwardly from bar 64 and iswelded thereto. A horizontal bar 70 is welded to the bar 68 and extendsover a portion of bar 64. A horizontal bar 72 aligned with bar 70 iswelded to base 62. This provides a slide '74 for receiving the enlargedbase 76 of an L-shaped post 78. The base 76 has a hole 79 therethrough.The post 78 has links b0 pivoted thereto for receiving one end of achain 82, the other end of which passes around a sprocket 84 mounted onarm 60. A removable pin 86 locks the sprocket dd in adjusted position. Abrace arm 88 is pivotally mounted to the top of post 78 and is providedwith openings or notches 90 for receiving a pin 92 mounted on arm 58.

In operation, the post 78 is positioned in the desired location betweenthe arms 58 and 60 with the hole 79 in alignment with one of the holes66. A pin 94 is then passed through holes 66 and 79 to lock the bottomof post 78 in position and the brace arm 83 positioned as shown with thepin 92 being received in notch 90 substantially as in the firstembodiment. The pin 86 is removed and the sprocket 8d rotated toposition the chain 82 to provide the desired catenary after which thepin 36 is replaced. The operation is then substantially as in the firstembodiment. The post 78 is placed in the slide 74 by moving the post 78from the position shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 3 toward the left.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made.

Iclaim:

1. A bundling cradle for barlike objects comprising a plurality ofassemblies spaced-apart longitudinally of said cradle; each of saidassemblies including a generally vertical post, a first upwardlyextending arm along one longitudinal side of said cradle, a secondupwardly extending arm along the other longitudinal side of said cradle,said post being located between said arms, a flexible member arranged ina loop between said first arm and said post, a. brace arm having one endpivotally connected to said post adjacent the top thereof, a pluralityof transversely spaced-apart sockets for receiving the bottom of saidpost, said brace arm having a plurality of openings therethroughspaced-apart transversely in the same manner as said sockets, and a pinextending from said second arm adapted to be selectively received in oneof said openings to connect said brace arm to said second arm; and meansconnecting said assemblies together with their posts in longitudinalalignment.

2. A bundling cradle according to claim 1, in which said post has abifurcated upper end for receiving said bundle.

3. A bundling cradle according to claim 2 including a sprocket receivedin said bifurcated upper end with its axis horizontal; and a pinremovably supported by said bifurcated upper end adjacent said sprocketto prevent movement thereof; and in which said flexible member is achain engaging said sprocket.

4. A bundling cradle according to claim 3' including a generallyUcshaped plate member having a bottom base connecting said first andsecond arms, and a plate secured to said bottom base with said socketsformed therein.

5. A bundling cradle according to claim 1 including a generally U-shapedplate member having a bottom base connecting said first and second arms,and a plate secured to said bottom base with said sockets formedtherein.

6. A bundling cradle according to claim 5 including load cells forsupporting said assemblies.

' 7. A bundling cradle according to claim 6 including a conveyor forfeeding said objects to said cradle over said first upwardly extendingarm.

8. A bundling cradle for elongated barlike objects comprising aplurality of assemblies spaced-apart longitudinally of said cradle; eachof said assemblies including a generally vertical post, a first upwardlyextending arm long one longitudinal side of said cradle, a secondupwardly extending arm along the other longitudinal side of said cradle,said post being located between said arms, a flexible member arranged ina loop between said first arm and said post for receiving said objects,means for adjusting the length of said flexible member between saidfirst arm and said post, means for locking the flexible member inadjusted length position, means for adjusting the position of said posttransversely with respect to said arms to vary the cantenary of saidflexible member, a brace arm, means connecting one end of said brace armto the top of said post, and means adjustably connecting the other endof said brace am to said second arm; and means connecting saidassemblies together with their posts and flexible members inlongitudinal alignment.

9. A bundling cradle according to claim 8 in which said means foradjusting the length of said flexible member includes a sprocketsupported on one of said post and first arm with its axis horizontal,said flexible member being a chain engaging said sprocket.

10. A bundling cradle according to claim 8 including a con veyor forfeeding said objects to said cradle over said first upwardly extendingarm.

1. A bundling cradle for barlike objects comprising a plurality ofassemblies spaced-apart longitudinally of said cradle; each of saidassemblies including a generally vertical post, a first upwardlyextending arm along one longitudinal side of said cradle, a secondupwardly extending arm along the other longitudinal side of said cradle,said post being located between said arms, a flexible member arranged ina loop between said first arm and said post, a brace arm having one endpivotally connected to said post adjacent the top thereof, a pluralityof transversely spaced-apart sockets for receiving the bottom of saidpost, said brace arm having a plurality of openings therethroughspaced-apart transversely in the same manner as said sockets, and a pinextending from said second arm adapted to be selectively received in oneof said openings to connect said brace arm to said second arm; and meansconnecting said assemblies together with their posts in longitudinalalignment.
 2. A bundling cradle according to claim 1, in which said posthas a bifurcated upper end for receiving said handle.
 3. A bundlingcradle according to claim 2 including a sprocket received in saidbifurcated upper end with its axis horizontal; and a pin removablysupported by said bifurcated upper end adjacent said sprocket to preventmovement thereof; and in which said flexible member is a chain engagingsaid sprocket.
 4. A bundling cradle according to claim 3 including agenerally U-shaped plate member having a bottom base connecting saidfirst and second arms, and a plate secured to said bottom base with saidsockets formed therein.
 5. A bundling cradle according to claim 1including a generally U-shaped plate member having a bottom baseconnecting said first and second arms, and a plate secured to saidbottom base with said sockets formed therein.
 6. A bundling cradleaccording to claim 5 including load cells for supporting saidassemblies.
 7. A bundling cradle according to claim 6 including aconveyor for feeding said objects to said cradle over said firstupwardly extending arm.
 8. A bundling cradle for elongated barlikeobjects comprising a plurality of assemblies spaced-apart longitudinallyof said cradle; each of said assemblies including a generally verticalpost, a first upwardly extending arm long one longitudinal side of saidcradle, a second upwardly extending arm along the other longitudinalside of said cradle, said post being located between said arms, aflexible member arranged in a loop between said first arm and said postfor receiving said objects, means for adjusting the length of saidflexible member between said first arm and said post, means for lockingthe flexible member in adjusted length position, means for adjusting theposition of said post transversely with respect to said arms to vary thecantenary of said flexible member, a brace arm, means connecting one endof said brace arm to the top of said post, and means adjustablyconnecting the other end of said brace arm to said second arm; and meansconnecting said assemblies together with their posts and flexiblemembers in longitudinal alignment.
 9. A bundling cradle according toclaim 8 in which said means for adjusting the length of said flexiblemember includes a sprocket supported on one of said post and first armwith its axis horizontal, said flexible member being a chain engagingsaid sprocket.
 10. A bundling cradle according to claim 8 including aconveyor for feeding said objects to said cradle over said firstupwardly extending arm.